"Beach Paradise" - Bahamas AI Image
©A. Derek Catalano
Download full size: 5376x3072
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
The Queen is Back! Sweet Emily Drops New Single
The Queen of Rake n Scrape, our very own Sweet Emily, has a special gift for everyone this Valentine’s season. She just announced her brand-new single titled “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”
Sweet Emily shared the big news on her Facebook page, showing off a beautiful new cover (check it out above!) and giving us the heads-up that this track is dropping just in time for the holiday of love. Whether it comes out right before or on Valentine’s Day, it’s definitely going to be the perfect song to set the mood.
A Bahamian Legend
We all know and love Sweet Emily for her classic hits that get everyone on the dance floor, like:
She’s been busy lately, too! You can find her featured in the 2026 Bahama Beat Calendar presented by BAF General. She’s standing alongside other Bahamian greats like Shine, KB, Juliet Believe, and Stileet. It’s amazing to see our legends getting the shine they deserve.
Spread the Love
Make sure you keep an eye out for the official release of “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” Once it drops, be sure to share it with your friends, family, and that special someone!
Monday, February 9, 2026
What The Bahamas should do about the China-backed hospital deal - AI Review
"Hospital Deal" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
What The Bahamas should do about the China-backed hospital deal — especially in light of the recent comments by U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker urging the government to reconsider.
🇧🇸 1. Clarify and Evaluate the Terms of the Deal
Why it matters:
• The current financing — a loan covering around $195 m of a ~$278 – $300 m project — is governed by Chinese law and may involve Chinese labour standards and jurisdiction for disputes, which raises sovereignty and legal concerns.
• The U.S. is suggesting alternative financing that adheres to international norms, potentially with fewer strings attached.
Best Action:
The Bahamian government should publish the full loan agreement and impact assessments (legal, financial, economic, social) so that Parliament and the public can understand:
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interest rates and repayment schedule
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clauses on employment and labour
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dispute resolution and governing law
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what happens if The Bahamas can’t meet repayments
This transparency will strengthen public trust and allow informed debate.
Get a Steady Job
"9 to 5" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Get a Steady Job
The morning mist is thick and grey, a blanket on the street,
As echoes of the alarm clock start their rhythmic, jarring beat.
They say the world is waiting for the bold and for the brave,
But mostly it is waiting for the worker and the slave.
A piece of sage advice is whispered, often with a sob,
"Forget your dreams of stardust, son, and get a steady job."
It starts with starch and ironed shirts, a tie that’s pulled too tight,
A transition from the dreaming hours to fluorescent, buzzing light.
The cubicle, a padded cell, a square of grey and tan,
The blueprint for the future of a sensible, grown man.
No more the paint-stained fingers or the lyrics on the page,
Just the comfort of a steady hand within a gilded cage.
"There’s dignity in labor," so the ancient masters told,
To trade the fire of youth away for silver and for gold.
To watch the clock with heavy eyes and pray for five o’clock,
While life is ticking, leaking out, like water on a rock.
The benefits are structured well, the dental plan is fine,
It compensates for all the things you’ve left behind the line.
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Bribery and Extortion and Their Detrimental Effects on a Country and Society
"Bribery and Extortion Downfall" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Bribery and Extortion and Their Detrimental Effects on a Country and Society
Bribery and extortion are among the most damaging forms of corruption affecting countries across the world. While they often operate quietly and behind closed doors, their consequences are loud, far-reaching, and deeply destructive. These practices weaken institutions, distort justice, slow economic development, and erode public trust. Over time, they shape societies where power replaces fairness, fear replaces law, and privilege replaces merit. Understanding how bribery and extortion function and why they are so harmful is essential to addressing their long-term effects on a nation and its people.
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Put Down That Gun
Related poem: Put Down Your Guns
Related poem: Turn Your Life Around
Related article: The Prevalence and Impact of Illegal Guns in The Bahamas
Friday, February 6, 2026
No Man is an Island
©A. Derek Catalano
No Man is an Island
The mountain stands in lonely pride, its peak against the blue,
With granite walls and frozen heart, it needs no point of view.
But man is made of softer clay, of spirit, breath, and bone,
And withered is the soul that seeks to journey all alone.
Though ego whispers of the self, a kingdom for the one,
No flower blooms in shadow-lands without the golden sun;
So too the heart, in silence locked behind a heavy door,
Becomes a shell upon the sand, a ghost upon the shore.
We are the threads of tapestry, a grand and vast design,
Where every color relies upon the neighboring strand of line.
To cut the cord and drift away in search of sovereign ground
Is but to lose the melody and silence every sound.
For in the infant’s first-drawn breath, a mother’s touch is there,
A social contract written in the very morning air;
We learn to speak by hearing speech, to love by being loved,
By countless hands and unseen hearts, our heavy stones are moved.
Consider well the lonely tree that braves the winter’s gale,
Without the forest at its back, its rooted strength will fail.
But when the grove stands thick and deep, the roots begin to lace,
They share the water of the earth, they hold the soil in place.
So let us hold our brother’s hand when shadows start to creep,
And let us share the heavy load when hills are high and steep.
For joy is doubled when it’s shared, and grief is cut in two,
When shared with those who walk the path and see the world with you.
Break That Habit
Related article: Cocaine Use and Abuse in The Bahamas
Related article: Alcohol Abuse in The Bahamas
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Devynne Charlton Invitational
Devynne Charlton Invitational
Saturday, February 7, 2026
9am - 6pm
Thomas A. Robinson Stadium
Nassau, Bahamas
Age groups: U7 to Open
The Societal Fabric Under Strain: Analyzing and Addressing the Social Ills of The Bahamas
"Social Ills of The Bahamas" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
The Societal Fabric Under Strain: Analyzing and Addressing the Social Ills of The Bahamas
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is often marketed to the world as a tranquil archipelago of turquoise waters and luxury resorts. However, beneath the veneer of this "tourist paradise" lies a complex web of social challenges that threaten the country’s stability, economic growth, and the well-being of its citizens. As of 2026, the nation continues to grapple with deep-seated social ills that are not merely isolated incidents but are symptoms of systemic failures in education, governance, and economic diversification. Understanding these ills—ranging from crime and educational deficits to illegal immigration and income inequality—is essential for charting a path toward a more resilient and equitable Bahamian society.
Tropic Seascape - PC Wallpaper
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
The Bus Stop - AI Redo
A drawing I did many years ago redone with AI.
"The Bus Stop" - After AI - Water colours
ⒸA. Derek Catalano
Download full size: 912x1136
The Sir Durward Knowles National Junior Sailing Championship
The Sir Durward Knowles
National Junior Sailing Championship
February 19-21, 2026
Montague Foreshore
Nassau, Bahamas
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
The Lazaretto - UPDATED
The Lazaretto, on Lazaretto Rd., off Carmichael Rd., New Providence, Bahamas. This was a place where those who were afflicted with leprosy were cared for in the early 1900s. I climbed atop a roof and did a sketch looking north(top), then climbed atop another roof and did a sketch looking south(bottom).
The term “lazaretto” historically refers to a quarantine station — a place where people (especially sailors) and goods arriving by sea were isolated to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. Quarantine stations were especially prominent in port cities where epidemics of plague, cholera, yellow fever, and other infectious diseases repeatedly threatened populations before the advent of modern medicine. Read updated article>>
1896 and 1996: How Two Supreme Court Acts Transformed Bahamian Law
Supreme Court
1896 and 1996: How Two Supreme Court Acts Transformed Bahamian Law
The Bahamas Supreme Court Act of 1896 represents one of the most significant pieces of legislation in the development of our modern legal system. By establishing a unified Supreme Court with unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, this Act laid the foundation for consistent, predictable, and professional administration of justice—principles that remain essential to the rule of law today. Understanding the Act requires appreciating why judicial centralization matters, particularly in small island nations operating under the common law tradition. Read full story>>
Monday, February 2, 2026
The Importance and Advantages of Being Well Groomed
"Well Groomed" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
The Importance and Advantages of Being Well Groomed
Being well groomed is often dismissed as a superficial concern, something tied only to appearance or vanity. In reality, grooming plays a much deeper role in personal, social, and professional life. It influences how people see us, how we see ourselves, and how we function in everyday situations. Grooming is not about luxury or expensive products. It is about basic care, self-respect, and awareness of how our presentation affects both our confidence and our interactions with others. When understood properly, being well groomed becomes an essential life skill rather than a shallow habit.
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Together In Harmony
"Peace on Earth" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Together In Harmony
In the corridors of history, where the ancient shadows lie,
We have built up mighty fortresses beneath a heavy sky.
We’ve carved the world in segments, drawing lines upon the sand,
With a prejudice for borders and a claim on every land.
We have looked upon our neighbor with a cold and wary eye,
Letting differences of color or of creed become a lie—
A lie that says we’re separate, that we’re cast in different molds,
While the story of our common heart remains a tale untold.
But the winds of change are stirring in the valley of the soul,
A whisper growing louder that we finally must be whole.
For the steel of every weapon and the fire of every war,
Has never brought the solace that our weary spirits implore.
We have marched through centuries of grief and bitter, hollow pride,
With a chest of heavy secrets and no place for them to hide.
Yet the morning light is breaking on a vision wide and vast,
Where we lay the heavy armor of our prehistoric past.
Imagine now a kingdom not of silver or of gold,
But a commonwealth of kindness where the truth is finally told.
Where the language that we speak is not a tool of sharp deceit,
But a bridge of understanding where the mind and spirit meet.
Where the labels we’ve inherited—the "them" and then the "us"—
Are dissolved like morning mist beneath a light of mutual trust.
For the skin is but a garment, and the faith a different song,
In a choir where every melody has always did belong.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Papua - AI Redo
Something I sketched many years ago and had it redone with AI. I used no reference image so there are some elements that may not fit, but I do what I like.
"Papua" - After AI - Water colours
©A. Derek Catalano
Download full size: 1024x1536
Friday, January 30, 2026
Time Travel Paradox: The Man Who Was Never Meant to Exist
"The Time Travellers" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Time Travel Paradox: The Man Who Was Never Meant to Exist
The first time X101 realized something was wrong with his existence, the archive went silent.
In the year 3000, silence was unnatural. Data never truly stopped flowing; it merely changed channels, reorganized itself, whispered in new ways. The Chronal Archives of Earth hummed constantly—billions of timelines cross-referenced, compressed, corrected. History was no longer remembered; it was maintained.
So when X101 searched for his own designation and found a blank space where a life should have been, the silence rang louder than any alarm.
Newsband - Carlito Catalano: Dancing Odissi Across Oceans
Newsband - Carlito Catalano: Dancing Odissi Across Oceans
Our son Carlito makes the news again! Featured in an interview in Newsband, another newspaper in India. Well done son. We love you. 💗
----------------------------------
From the verandas of The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas to international Odissi stages, Carlito Catalano's journey is one of devotion, resilience, and cultural bridge-building. As the sole practitioner of Indian classical dance in his homeland, this artist has turned solitary passion into a global pursuit.
More articles about Carlito Catalano.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
The Importance and Advantages of Speaking Properly and Communicating Effectively
"Speaking and Communicating" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
The Importance and Advantages of Speaking Properly and Communicating Effectively
Speaking properly and communicating effectively are essential skills in everyday life. They influence how people understand us, how seriously we are taken, and how successfully we interact with others. Communication is more than just talking. It involves choosing the right words, using an appropriate tone, listening carefully, and expressing ideas clearly. When people develop strong communication skills, they gain advantages in education, work, relationships, and personal growth.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Manners and Respect Will Take You Around the World
"International Meeting" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
Manners and Respect Will Take You Around the World
In the bustling streets of a neon town,
Or where the golden sun goes down
In quiet fields of emerald green,
A silent power moves unseen.
It is not gold, nor silver rare,
Nor jewels that wealthy monarchs wear;
It is the grace of how we stand,
A bridge that spans from land to land.
For though the tongues we speak may change,
And customs seem both new and strange,
A common thread binds every shore:
The kindness we can all outpour.
The "magic words" are keys of light
That turn the darkness into bright.
A simple "Please" can open gates
That have been locked by iron weights.
And "Thank you" is the softest song
To right a day that’s going wrong.
When errors fall, as they often do,
A "Sorry" brings the heart to view;
It heals the rift and mends the tear,
And clears the tension from the air.
"Excuse me" is the gentle plea
To honor shared humanity.
Respect is not a heavy crown,
But laying self-importance down.
It’s honoring the elder’s face,
The wisdom etched in time and space.
It’s seeing those who serve our food,
With patience and with gratitude.
The porter, clerk, or passing guest—
Each soul deserves our very best.
For when we treat the humble well,
We cast a warm and lasting spell;
The world reflects the light we give,
In every city where we live.
For Colored Girls - A Powerful Stage Experience You Don’t Want to Miss
For Colored Girls
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf
An emotionally charged story about love, heartbreak, healing, and strength.
An emotionally charged story about love, heartbreak, healing, and strength.
Jan 30 & 31 – 8PM | Feb 1 – 4PM
$30 | 18+
Regency Theatre, Grand Bahama
Tickets available online
Or purchase in person at Baha Gala (Rayvin Mall) & DeGregory Fine Foods (Seahorse Plaza)
This powerful stage production is coming
to Regency Theatre in Grand Bahama and you do not want to miss it!
to Regency Theatre in Grand Bahama and you do not want to miss it!
The Bahamas Dances Odissi: Carlito Catalano
The Bahamas Dances Odissi: Carlito Catalano
Our son Carlito has been featured in the Indian DCN News Epaper today. Read it in their dance column "Rhythms and More".
Congratulations again son. You make us all very proud.
More articles about Carlito Catalano.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
World Models: The Architectures of Imagination and the Future of AI
"World Models AI" - Bahamas AI Art
©A. Derek Catalano
World Models: The Architectures of Imagination and the Future of AI
Introduction
For decades, the standard paradigm in Artificial Intelligence has been reactive. Whether through the pattern matching of Large Language Models (LLMs) or the trial-and-error loops of Reinforcement Learning (RL), AI has primarily functioned by mapping inputs directly to outputs. However, a profound shift is underway. Researchers are increasingly converging on the concept of World Models—internal, predictive simulations of reality that allow machines to "dream," plan, and reason about physics before they act. By moving beyond statistical correlation toward an understanding of causal dynamics, world models represent the most viable path toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
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